Michael J. Perlin, Ed.D., M.P.H., M.S.

June 25, 1945 - August 25, 2011

Remembrances...

The SCSU Department of Public Health graduate newsletter, with tributes from colleagues and students, with pictures of Dr. Perlin and his family

September 9, 2011

Betty,
So sorry to hear about Dr. Perlin - He was a great professor. His Health Behavior Theory was always one of my favorite classes. I appreciate you letting me know that he passed. Take care!
Ruth Clemens

August 30, 2011

Thank you, this morning for the wonderful tribute to my brother, Michael.

Living in California and keeping in touch with Michael via phone, text and email - and visits - we knew many of Michael's accomplishments and passions, but many I found on the internet. He was a humble man and a champion for the truth and solutions. We were very proud of Michael - always. At 14, he was the only male candy stripper in Beth-El Hospital in Brooklyn. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and loved medicine and helping people. As a young man, he made numerous trips to Mexico (at his own expense) with Doctors and nurses with supplies and to teach the residents how to maintain safer, healthier, more sanitary ways to live.

Your tribute to Michael is amazing and I am very grateful. Bless you for your kindness. I know that you and my brother were dear friends and he valued the relationship. Thank you again for your presentation of my brother Michael's life. We will miss him terribly, but will rejoice forever that he was. The last week, he still had so many ideas he hoped to implement to help humanity.

Marcia Laski

Scholarship Information

The SCSU Alumni Association is setting up a temporary restricted fund that will go solely towards setting up the Dr. Michael J. Perlin Scholarship Fund.

Checks should be made payable to the SCSU Foundation, with a note in the memo that reads: Dr. Michael J. Perlin Scholarship. Send to:
Southern Connecticut State University
Foundation Business Office
501 Crescent Street
New Haven, CT 06515

From the menu, choose the following:
I would like to support the: Other
I would like to designate my gift to: Dr. Michael J. Perlin Scholarship

Professional Legacy

Michael Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention is an eight-week program for people arrested for possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia.

This court-mandated program is designed for first-time offenders who are given the opportunity to erase the arrest from their records upon successful completion of the program. PDEP is also a diversionary program that was developed to address the equally important issue of the use of illegal or non-sanctioned prescribed substances. This program also attempts, through the use of evidence-based interventions, to reduce recidivism. It additionally seeks to identity those individuals for whom more intensive treatment is necessary and encourage them to voluntarily seek treatment.

On February 26, 2010, the Board of Directors of The Connection, Inc. established the Michael J. Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention to honor the work of Dr. Michael Perlin, a member of the Board of Directors of ALSO-Cornerstone, Inc. from 2003 to 2010. Dr. Perlin is Professor Emeritus of Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University and co-author of the Connecticut Pretrial Alcohol Education System, the State of Connecticut's Drinking Driving Rehabilitation Program, which became the DMHAS-funded Pretrial Alcohol Education System and Pretrial Drug Education Program for first-time offenders. These two community justice programs, now provided under the umbrella of the Michael Perlin Center, enable The Connection to serve thousands of individuals in nearly a dozen communities throughout Connecticut.

For more information about Michael Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention, contact Gerardo Sorkin, Director of Prevention and Education, at (203) 787-2111, or via email at gsorkin@theconnectioninc.org, or Michael Dutko, Assistant Director of Pretrial Education, at mdutko@theconnectioninc.org

Source: http://www.theconnectioninc.org/Pretrial_Drug_Education.html

SCSU Professor Lauded for Public Health Effort

As he completed the pre-med program at City College of Brooklyn, the new field of public health caught Michael Perlin's eye. Curious, he stayed for an extra semester to give the classes a shot, and ultimately, began what would be a 42-year career of service to his fellow man.

Now a professor emeritus of public health after 29 years at Southern Connecticut State University, Perlin continues to be recognized for his remarkable contributions to the field. His work was recently acknowledged by Gov. M. Jodi Rell in a gubernatorial proclamation.

The Connection, a nonprofit community development agency, also this spring acted as host for a luncheon in Perlin's honor. The organization also christened one of its pre-trial education programs the Michael J. Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention.

Almost 30 years ago, after serving on the New York State Drinking Driver Program, Perlin was asked to co-author Connecticut's Pretrial Alcohol Education System. At that time, Connecticut had no such programs. Perlin's experience helped draft the plan the Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention still employs today.

The Perlin Center provides an eight-week drug education program and a 10- or 15-week alcohol abuse program. Both are meant to limit repeat offenses and identify offenders who need more comprehensive treatment. Upon successful completion of the program, first-time offenders can have the criminal charge removed from their record.

Perlin, a member of Also-Cornerstones board of directors and chairman of the board's Program Committee until the public health organization was absorbed by The Connection this year, was very appreciative of the accolades. The luncheon, the renaming of the pre-trial program and the proclamation it was such a generous thing for people to do, he said. It's humbling.

Such praise has become regular for Perlin, who was vital to the reaccreditation of Southern's Public Health Department, which recently gained a seven-year accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health. Perlin said public health was more of a vocation than a job. His two children, Jared and Jordyn, who he proudly quips have been honor students since before they were born, constantly reminded him private medicine would have been more lucrative.

But Perlin, who came from a family of physicians, was drawn to the humane, preventive measures public health took. He said he has no regrets. His passion, especially for guiding educating and mentoring others, has also been rewarded.

He received the 2009 Health Education Mentor Award from the Society for Public Health Education and the C-EA Winslow Award from the Connecticut Public Health Association for achievement and leadership in public health practice, research, and education.

Source: New Haven Register, By Jonathan Meoli, Special to the Register
July 6, 2010. http://www.google.com/gwt/x?wsc=yq&wsi=27d317000c9677d0&source=m&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nhregister.com/
articles/2010/07/06/news/
aa3neperlin070610.txt%3Fviewmode%3Dfullstory&ei=
KmZgTr78PIeKwgWzot25Dw&ct=pg1&whp=30

Pearls of Recognition for Recently Retired Professor

The Accolades continue to roll in for Michael J. Perlin, professor emeritus of public health, whose commitment to his field and the public good has now earned him the recognition of Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
Perlin, who retired last summer after 29 years of teaching at Southern and a 39-year career in academia, was being honored last month at a luncheon by The Connection, a Connecticut non-profit human services and community development agency. He had served from 2003 to 2010 as a member of the Board of Directors of Also-Cornerstone, Inc., which operated various public health programs until earlier this year, when it was subsumed by The Connection. In fact, Perlin
was the chairman of the board's Program Committee.
The Connection announced at the luncheon that it was naming one of its pre-trial education programs after him officially to be known as the Michael Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention. Connecticut's judicial system offers many first-time defendants who have been charged with an offense linked to alcohol or drug abuse the opportunity to avoid a criminal record by successfully completing a substance abuse education program. The Connection is an agency that operates such a program, and serves about two-thirds of all
court-referred clients in Connecticut, according to Marcie Dimenstein,
director of programs and services for the agency.
Perlin who coauthored the state's original pre-trial alcohol education system curriculum in 1981 was enjoying the luncheon in his honor. But he was
taken by surprise at the event when a gubernatorial proclamation was read that deemed April 22 as Michael Perlin Day in Connecticut.
I had no idea that was coming, Perlin says. The luncheon, the renaming of the pre-trial program and the proclamation it was such a generous thing for people to do. It's humbling."
Dimenstein says Perlin understands the significant role that education has on people's lives. His work with our program has helped people make better choices and has reduced the number of impaired drivers, she says. We are going to miss his contributions."
Perlin sums up his role with the organization for the last seven years as quality assurance. He was involved in the evaluation and certification processes for the programs.
Before his retirement, Perlin also played an integral role in the reaccreditation process for Southern's Public Health Department, which
gained a full 7-year accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (C.E.P.H.).
In 2009, Perlin also received the Health Education Mentor Award from the Society for Public Health Education and the C-EA Winslow Award from the Connecticut Public Health Association for achievement and leadership in public health practice, research and education.
Sandra Holley, dean emerita of the School of Graduate Studies, recently presented a certificate of appreciation to Perlin for his many contributions to Southern and the community.
In his role as coordinator of the graduate program in public health, Dr. Perlin established a reputation among students, staff and faculty as being a man of integrity and a staunch advocate for excellence in teaching, research and scholarship, Holley says.
The quintessential professional, he is highly respected by his colleagues at Southern and his peers within his professional discipline. He is well-known as an ardent advocate for public health education with an indefatigable
spirit and enormous energy devoted to the pursuit of social justice. He is a mentor extraordinaire beloved by his students and a highly valued colleague whom I hold in the highest esteem.

The C.-E.A. Winslow Award is presented to a public health professional that has demonstrated leadership and achievement in practice, research and /or education. The award commemorates Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (1877-1957), a pioneer in public health and medicine, who is credited with founding the second oldest school of public health in the country at Yale University. Among the most widely quoted health leaders during his lifetime, Dr. Winslow believed that equal in weight with scientific ideas about health and disease was a commitment to social justice that social ills must be the first conquest in the conquest of epidemic disease.

The NYS Drinking Driver Program (DDP)
Alcohol & Drug Rehabilitation Program
Queens College of the City University of New York

A Message from the Director Dr. Michael J. Perlin

Welcome to Queens College sponsor of the NYS Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Program, also referred to as the Drinking Driver Program (DDP). For more than 35 years, I and the staff of the Drinking Driver Program (DDP) have committed ourselves to making the privilege of driving a safer experience for all the citizens of our state. Here is what we know:

We know that every single injury and death caused by driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs is totally preventable. We know that no one leaves home with the intention of causing or being involved in an alcohol and/or other drug-related crash. We also know that everyone involved in an alcohol and/or other drug-related crash is a victim. We know that for both the impaired driver and the motorist who was sober and involved in the crash, lives will be changed forever. Fines, jail, embarrassment, loss of employment, divorce, family dysfunction, injury, disability, death, emotional trauma, are only some of the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.

We also know that changing behavior is not easy, but that not changing impaired driving behavior is unacceptable. The Queens Drinking Driver Program is staffed by experienced and compassionate instructors who are dedicated to providing participants with the education, referral and treatment services needed to reduce future impaired driving behavior. Through weekly educational sessions and group discussions, participants have the opportunity to gain insight into their current behavior and learn strategies for making better decisions for becoming safer and more responsible drivers.

Participation in the Drinking Driver Program is an opportunity to make a difference in your life and the lives of others. On behalf of the staff and the more than 20,000 motorists who have completed the Queens DDP, I wish you every success in your efforts to regain your driving privileges and contribute to safer motoring whenever and wherever you drive. You deserve this chance and so do your friends, family and the millions of other motorists that depend on your ability to drive safely. I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to take full advantage of this opportunity. We are all counting on you.

Source: http://www.cep.qc.edu/drinkingdrivingprogram/amessage.htm

Brief Biography

Michael J. Perlin, Ed.D., M.P.H., M.S.

Education

Ed.D., Health Education
Columbia University, New York (1981)

M.P.H., Community Health
UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California (1975)

M.S., Health Education
Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York (1969)

B.S., Health Education
Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York (1968)

Clinical Internship in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Centers for Professional Counseling, Elmhurst, New York (1970-1975)

Funded Grant Activities

Borough of Queens, New York, Driver Rehabilitation Program (DRP). Retained by Queens College, New York, through an contract with SCSU to serve as Director of the DRP 2007 - 2011

Medical Interpretation Among Acute Care Hospitals in Connecticut (with P. Gallup and W. Faraclas. Funded by the CT. Department of Public Health (2008).

A Study for Re-establishment of a Department of Aging in Accordance with Connecticut Public Act 05-280. Funded by the Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act 07-01. Completed in 2008. Served as consultant.

Vancour M. and Perlin M. (2207). Creating an online public health/work-life balance course for graduate students. Funded by Faculty Development for a Curriculum-related Grant.

In my capacity as Coordinator of Graduate Studies, I have produced more than 100 publications, including all of the Departments brochures, manuals, student guides and administrative guides for the conduct of the degree and internships programs.

Presentations

Presenter Behavioral Adherence. The Blood Sugar Balancing Act Workshop; sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association, April 2008.

Presenter - Behavioral Adherence. The Blood Sugar Balancing Act Workshop; sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Connecticut Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Diabetes Association, October 2008.

Guest Lecturer, Likelihood to Change Model: An Integrative Model of Behavior Change, Health Education Committee of the Connecticut Public Health Association, April 2005.

Workshop Presenter, Enhancing Clinical Skills for Working with the Mandated Drugged Driver, Human Services Centers, Elmhurst, New York, November-March, 2004 (12 sessions). I have provided literally dozens of workshops for Human Services Centers each year from 1980-2004 on a broad range of clinical topics.

Workshop Presenter, Aggressive Driving Prevention, New York State Department of Motor Vehicle Annual Conference, June 2003.

As a member of the Executive Board of the New York State Drinking Driver Program (DDP) Directors Association, I serve as consultant to 51 Driver Rehabilitation Programs (DRP) throughout the State of New York. In this capacity, in addition to telephone and email consultations, I provide onsite consultations and workshop facilitations to a minimum of 12 DRPs each year.

Service to the University

Have served on most every major University Committee, including seventeen in 2007-2008. I currently serve as the Chairperson of the Academic Standards Committee of the Graduate Council, the body that conducts all program certifications (a.k.a., internal accreditations).

I have served as the ethics trainer for the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) and Graduate School Graduate Assistantship (GSGA) Programs for the past 5 years.

November 5, 2008 Appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to serve on the CSU Trustee Research Award Committee.

Service to the School of Health &amp Human Services

Served on the School Curriculum Committee (2005 - 2009).

Service to the Department of Public Health

Have served on all Departmental Committees on a regular basis.

Served as the Coordinator for each of the Department's CEPH accreditations.

Awards

2003 Robert Foley Award Presented by the New York State Drinking Driver Program Directors Association for my work in highway and traffic safety.

Condolences

Obituary &amp Notices

CPHA Notes the Passing of Beloved Public Health Educator

It is with great sorrow that CPHA writes about the death of Dr. Michael J. Perlin, Professor Emeritus of Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and 2009 recipient of CPHA's Winslow Award, the highest honor given to a public health professional in Connecticut. Throughout his career at SCSU, Dr. Perlin distinguished himself as a well-loved teacher, uniquely respected colleague and unflagging advocate for the highest academic standards and accountability in higher education. During his many years as an educator, he molded hundreds of future public health professionals with his love and respect for the field. In his position as coordinator of the graduate program, Dr. Perlin diversified the student body and recruited and mentored foreign students, many of whom return to their home countries to affect positive change. As coordinator for the public health internship, he has developed the practicum into a superior educational experience.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Perlin had long standing involvement with counseling and programs concerned with substance abuse, mental health and highway and traffic safety. On February 26, 2010, the Board of Directors of The Connection, Inc. established the Michael J. Perlin Center for Substance Abuse Intervention to honor his work. Dr. Perlin was the co-author of the Connecticut Pretrial Alcohol Education System, the State of Connecticut's Drinking Driving Rehabilitation Program, which later became the DMHAS-funded Pretrial Alcohol Education System and the Pretrial Drug Education Program for first-time offenders. These two community justice programs, now provided under the umbrella of the Michael Perlin Center, enable The Connection to serve thousands of individuals in nearly a dozen communities throughout Connecticut.

This is a huge loss for the public health community, said Tracey Scraba, CPHA President. Fortunately, his legacy lives on through the students he trained and the Center recently established in his honor. I am so pleased that CPHA was able to recognize his accomplishments through the C-E.A. Winslow Award.

In remembrance of Dr. Perlin, donations can be made to the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation (501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515) with a note in the memo that reads: Dr. Michael J. Perlin Scholarship. For more information on donating online, visit the memorial webpage created by his former student, Betty Jung at http://www.bettycjung.net/Perlin.htm.

PERLIN, DR. MICHAEL J. Dr. Michael J. Perlin, 66, of North Branford, CT, died August 25, 2011 at The Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT, after a long illness. A loving father, Dr. Perlin is survived by his devoted wife of 27 years, Elaine Damon, son Jared Perlin and daughter Jordyn Perlin of North Branford, CT. He is also survived by his sister Marcia Laski, nieces Beth Laski-Blankstein and Dara Laski, and nephews David and Evan Laski of the Los Angeles, CA area. He was the son of the late Ben and Lillian Perlin of Canoga Park, CA. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Perlin was Professor Emeritus of Public Health at Southern Connecticut State University, where he distinguished himself as a well-loved teacher, uniquely respected colleague and unflagging advocate for the highest academic standards and accountability in higher education. During 41 years as an educator - the majority spent at SCSU as a Professor of Public Health - he was well known as an energetic and ingenious educator, who left an indelible mark on countless students. He received Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Brooklyn College/City University of New York, a Master of Public Health from the University of California Los Angeles and a Doctor of Education from Columbia University, Teachers College. According to his wishes, funeral services will be privately celebrated by the family. In remembrance of Dr. Perlin, donations can be made to the Southern Connecticut State University Foundation (501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515) to establish the Michael J. Perlin Memorial Scholarship.